Your garage door doesn’t only play a role in your home’s safety and security, it also adds up to the total curb appeal your entire home has. Given these facts, knowing your garage door’s specificities is as important.
Garage doors come in different types, shapes, and sizes. And to get a new one, or replace a current one, you’ll have to know this information to help you select the right garage door for your home.
In this blog post, we’ll help you get the right measurements for your garage door including the other additional measurements you have to consider within your garage.
The Importance of Getting the Right Garage Door Size and Measurement
Are you planning to buy a garage door for your new home? Or do you want to replace the old one you have? Or maybe you’re just thinking about replacing the panels?
Whatever it is that you plan to do, knowing the correct garage door size is paramount as this is the main consideration you have to look into.
These are the “Standard” Garage Door Sizes
Single-Car Garage Door
Designed to comfortably fit a single vehicle into your garage, a single-car garage door has an average width of 8 to 10 feet. This width allows a smooth entry and exit for sedans and SUVs, to a small truck.
Double-Car Garage Door
This is the most common garage door size we use in the US as most residential homes feature a double-car garage. The width of this garage door is from 16 to 18 feet and provides a comfortable space to pull up two standard vehicles side by side.
Three-Car Garage Door
Given the first two widths, you’d probably think that a three-car garage door is the size of a single garage door times three. That is not the case here though – because a typical three-car garage door is actually 32 feet or twice the width of a double-car garage. This is because you need to consider the clearance for the car that’s parked in the middle including the other two on either side.
Regardless of the width, the standard garage height is about 7 feet. Although a height of 8 feet is not uncommon, anything past that is considered a custom-sized height.
The Tools You’ll Need for Measuring
Accurate measurements are essential to a smooth garage door installation and replacement. Before you begin, you will need tools and materials to guarantee the correct measurements. Prepare these in advance:
- Tape Measure
- Pencil
- Paper
- Ladder
Safety Precautions
Again, before doing any kind of DIY project, safety precautions must be taken. To measure your garage door safely, we’ve listed down things you should observe while measuring:
- Use Stable Ladders – if measuring at height, make sure the ladder is stable and on level ground before going up.
- Clear Any Obstructions – clear the area around your garage door for any tools, objects, or obstacles.
- Secure Loose Clothing – avoid wearing loose clothing that could get caught in garage door mechanisms while measuring.
- Beware of Moving Parts – move with caution at all times.
- Have an Assistant or Helper – it would be best if you could find someone to help with the task.
- Use Proper Tools – make sure you have everything you need before starting.
- Avoid Electrical Hazards – beware of electrical hazards within your garage. Keep the remote control and keypad away to ensure you’re garage door won’t accidentally open or close during the measuring process.
- Maintain Awareness – keep your focus on the task at hand and try to avoid any distractions.
Understanding Garage Door Types
Garage doors come in different types and understanding this helps determine specific requirements for installation and functionality.
Sectional Garage Doors
This is the most common type of garage door and consists of several horizontal panels that operate vertically as your door opens and closes. When measuring this kind of door, consider the width and height of the opening as well as the headroom for track installation.
Roll-Up Garage Doors
These rolling steel doors are also called slat doors that coil above a garage opening. They are most common in commercial garages rather than in residential ones. When measuring for this kind of door, you should consider the height and space needed for the coil mechanism which will require more headroom than other types of doors.
Side-Sliding Doors
This type of garage door opens by sliding horizontally to the side rather than vertically like the traditional overhead garage doors. These doors have panels that are hinged together and slide along tracks mounted on the side wall of the garage. These are usually used in garages with limited ceiling space or where overhead clearance is an issue.
Tilt-Up Garage Doors
This type of garage door pivots on a hinge and swings up into the garage. If you’re measuring for this kind of door, be sure to include the height and the amount of space it needs to tilt upward.
Measuring for Different Door Types
The style you want for a garage door also affects the ideal width you need. Some door types require more side space than others, and some require more headroom than others.
Here are some of the garage door-type considerations you need to know:
- Carriage Garage Doors – Although this type of garage door requires additional extra side clearance for smooth operation, it also adds a rustic charm to your home’s curb appeal.
- Roll-Up Garage Doors – These doors offer a space-saving solution for garage doors with large openings or areas with limited overhead space. Roll-up garage doors are common in commercial spaces but can also be a practical option for residential garages. If you need help with a roll-up door repair, don’t hesitate to contact us!
- Aluminum and Glass Garage Doors – These two types of modern garage doors offer a sleek design that is mostly custom-sized. These doors are best fit for minimalist homes for their aesthetic appeal.
Choosing a garage door is no easy feat. You should consider a lot of aspects like the vehicle that you own, the space you have for a garage, the home aesthetic you’re yielding for, and the type of garage door that will work for your needs. We recommend getting professional help in choosing the correct garage door for you. From choosing a design to the actual new garage door installation, and to the after-sales support, California Garage Door Repair Company is here to help!
Preparing to Measure
You should take several important steps to prepare for taking your garage door’s measurements.
- Gathering all the tools you need before starting the task is important.
- Have a helper ready to assist you in measuring.
- Take note of all the safety precautions we mentioned above: having a stable ladder, clearing the area for obstructions, securing your clothing, taking notice of moving garage door parts, avoiding electrical hazards, and maintaining awareness throughout the process.
- Once you have everything you need, you may proceed with the actual measurement.
Measuring the Door Opening
In this section, our experts will teach you how to measure your garage door opening which includes the following:
- Width
- Height
- Headroom
- Sideroom
- Backroom
Measure the Width
- Stand inside the garage facing your door opening.
- Use your tape measure to measure the width from one side to the other.
- Include any trims or framing in the measurement.
- Do this on multiple areas of your garage door to obtain the most accurate measurement.
Measure the Height
- Again, stand inside the garage facing the entrance.
- Measure from the floor to the top of the space.
- Measure in multiple spaces for accuracy.
- Write down the highest measurement you obtain.
Measure the Headroom
This is the space above the garage door opening needed for entry, which also includes the space for the garage door hardware to operate smoothly.
- Place your ladder under the garage door header.
- Measure the distance from the top of the garage door opening up to the ceiling of your garage.
- If there’s any obstruction, measure from the top of the garage door opening up to the obstruction.
- Note the headroom measurement as this will be the basis for choosing a garage door opener.
Measure the Sideroom
This is the space on either side of the garage door opening. Measuring this will help determine the type of track you can fit in your garage door opening and the hardware required for it.
- Measure from the inside of the garage door opening to the nearest wall on both sides.
- From the vertical track, measure from the same point on both sides.
- Note the measurements.
Measure the Backroom
The distance between the back of your garage to the garage door opening is called the backroom. This measurement is essential to ensure that the garage door will open and close properly.
- Measure from the back of the wall to the nearest obstruction inside the garage.
Additional Measurements You Have to Consider
Apart from the measurements above, as a homeowner, you also have to list down these additional measurements to consider especially when you’re installing a new garage door.
Threshold Height
This is the height of the garage floor from the ground outside – considering this is necessary to avoid problems during storms, heavy rainfall, and flooding. Remember that even a narrow gap can make your garage logged of rainwater and debris from the weather outside.
You can also learn how to weather-seal your garage door to prevent these issues in the future.
Slope
If your garage has a slope, it is also important to measure it for proper door function, alignment, drainage, installation adjustments, and aesthetic considerations.
Width Considerations
We already discussed the standard garage door width for single, double, and three-car garage doors. Now, we’ll lay down other width considerations you should take note of.
- Pickup trucks and Full-Size SUVs – These require at least 12 feet of width for ample clearance and a comfortable fit. If you have a truck or an SUV, a single-size car garage door will be too small to accommodate it.
- Commercial Vans & Delivery Vehicles – The usual width size for commercial vans and delivery trucks would be anywhere from 12 to 16ft or just a little bit smaller than a two-car garage door size.
- Recreational Vehicles (RVs) – The size of RVs vary greatly and you should be able to measure your vehicle first before deciding on the width of your garage door.
- Boat and Trailer Storage – If you plan to put boats, trailers, or large equipment inside your garage, you should be able to measure them individually and create a floor plan that will work for all of your vehicles. This should help you determine the width you need and the garage door type that will match their requirements.
Now that you have a list of what measurements to consider and how to measure your garage door, you might want to know new garage door trends to give you a broader idea.
Common Mistakes You Should Avoid
Taking measurements or learning how to measure a garage door may sound simple. But unfortunately, it’s not a foolproof task that anyone could do. Here are some mistakes you should avoid doing:
- Inaccurate measurements are one of the most frequent errors you can do. To avoid making this mistake, be sure to take multiple measurements at different points.
- Neglecting headroom can be a significant problem because this space is crucial for the operation of your garage door and its tracks.
- Ignoring the side room will lead to track installation issues – you need the side spaces for the door track and hardware.
- Disregarding backroom space is crucial, especially for sectional garage doors that require this space to be open.
- Not considering floor slopes will definitely result in poor door alignment and sealing.
- Forgetting about obstructions can interrupt garage door operations.
- Rushing the process will never do any good. If you don’t have the time for this, you better get expert help to ensure you’re getting the correct measurements for the garage door you want installed. Call us at California Garage Door Repair so we can help you with everything garage door-related!
Get Professional Help at California Garage Door Repair Company
Getting the correct garage door measurements accurately is crucial for proper fit, functionality, safety, installation ease, and a lot more. However, this can also take time and effort for busy homeowners like you.
The best alternative to personally measuring garage doors will be hiring experts in all garage door things like California Garage Door Repair Company. We can also help with other garage door repair issues or help you with how to measure a garage door spring. With thousands of satisfied customers around Los Angeles and nearby areas, we’re proud to boast of our garage door repair services!
Contact us to get a free estimate on any garage door issues you may have! Our team is ready to help you with your garage door problems 24/7!
